PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Fourteen hilltribe people from Vietnam, three of them sick with malaria, have come under the care of the U.N.'s refugee agency after spending more than three weeks hiding in the jungle in eastern Cambodia, the agency said Friday.
The new group brought to 30 the number of the Vietnamese asylum-seekers in Cambodia rescued this month by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees after fleeing alleged repression at the hands of the communist government of their homeland.
The ethnic minority asylum-seekers came from the Central Highlands of Vietnam where they are collectively known as Montagnards.
Vietnam's government generally distrusts the Montagnards, many of whom sided with the United States during the Vietnam War and attend Protestant churches not recognized by the government.
The new group of 14 Montagnards comprises five men, four women and five children, a UNHCR statement said, adding that they came from Dak Nong province in Vietnam.
They crossed the border from Vietnam more than three weeks ago and had been hiding in Mondulkiri province before being brought to Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh Friday, it said.
One adult and two children are receiving treatment for malaria at a local hospital, said Deborah Backus, the UNHCR spokeswoman.
Sixteen Montagnards were retrieved from the jungle of neighboring Ratanakiri province early this month.
There are now 272 Montagnards under UNHCR's protection in Cambodia, the statement said, adding that the agency will conduct another mission to locate additional asylum-seekers reportedly still hiding in Mondulkiri province.
Thousands of Montagnards have fled to Cambodia since 2001, when Vietnam's communist government cracked down on protests against land confiscation and restrictions on religious freedom. Many have been resettled in the United States. A small number have voluntarily returned to Vietnam.
The new group brought to 30 the number of the Vietnamese asylum-seekers in Cambodia rescued this month by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees after fleeing alleged repression at the hands of the communist government of their homeland.
The ethnic minority asylum-seekers came from the Central Highlands of Vietnam where they are collectively known as Montagnards.
Vietnam's government generally distrusts the Montagnards, many of whom sided with the United States during the Vietnam War and attend Protestant churches not recognized by the government.
The new group of 14 Montagnards comprises five men, four women and five children, a UNHCR statement said, adding that they came from Dak Nong province in Vietnam.
They crossed the border from Vietnam more than three weeks ago and had been hiding in Mondulkiri province before being brought to Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh Friday, it said.
One adult and two children are receiving treatment for malaria at a local hospital, said Deborah Backus, the UNHCR spokeswoman.
Sixteen Montagnards were retrieved from the jungle of neighboring Ratanakiri province early this month.
There are now 272 Montagnards under UNHCR's protection in Cambodia, the statement said, adding that the agency will conduct another mission to locate additional asylum-seekers reportedly still hiding in Mondulkiri province.
Thousands of Montagnards have fled to Cambodia since 2001, when Vietnam's communist government cracked down on protests against land confiscation and restrictions on religious freedom. Many have been resettled in the United States. A small number have voluntarily returned to Vietnam.
3 comments:
Ah Cambodian Hun Sen help ah You to kill Khmer!
Do mai ah saker Hun Sen do mairwear!
Now Khmer loeur! Next Khmer Krom, later you! Khmer kandal.
Thank You! UNCHR did a great job!
Please don't stop more work need to be done! AH HUN SEN must not interfere with UNCHR humanitarian work!
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